robins



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. B ROBINS. Lamp MPETEKS. PHQTO-UTHUGRAPHER, 'NASHINGTCN. D C

(NoiModeL) V 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. B. ROBINS. Lamp.

No. 240,462. Patented April 19, I881.

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MPETEIH. PHOTO-LITHOBNAPHER. WASNKNGTON. D. C-

(No Model.) 5 sheetssheet 3.

W. B. ROBINS.

Lamp. No. 240,462. Pa tented April 19,188l.

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N.PETER8, PM)?LITHOGIIAPNEWI WASHINGTON. D C.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 4.

, W. B; ROBINS.

Lamp. No .,240,462. Patented April 19,1881.

PET RS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. W SHINGTON. D. Cv

ssneess-sneet 5.

(No Model.)

W. B. ROBINS. Lamp.

No. 240,462. Patented April 19,1881.

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N.PETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, wAsummou, D C

' ms, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. ROBINS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming To all whom 1t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BURNET Ron- Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a peculiarly-constructed lamp and a flame-regulating feedcushion, the same being designed especially for use with one form or other of my mineral V candle. The said mineral candle, being the subject of another application for patent to be filed, requires no specific description.

For the above-stated purpose my lamp is constructed with either an annular or a fiat candle-holder, according to the form of mineral candle for which it is intended. When constructed for use with the annular or hollow cylindrical form of mineral candle my lamp possesses the wide central draftway, which constitutes one of the characteristics of such candles. The bottom of said holder is supplied with a highly elastic, and at the same time permeable, feed wick or cushion of some springy fibrous or spongy material-such as packed or felted wool, curled hair, worsted yarn, sponge, or mineral wool, so called. Associated with such holder, and with its contained feed-cushion-and supcrincumbent mineral candle, is a mechanical device to enable the forcible depression or elevation of the candle, soas either to compress the cushion, and thereby diminish the flow of oil to the candle-top, where alone the combustion takes place, or to permit expansion of the cushion, and thereby enable the more active ascent of oil and corresponding increase of flame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp adapted for use with the annular form of my candle, a portion of the font being broken away.' Fig. 2 is a partly-sectioned elevation of the same, showing my feed-cushion and candle in position. Fig. 3 shows the annular or hollow cylindrical form of my candle. Fig. 4 is a partly-sectioned elevation of a lamp embodying a modification of my candle-adjusting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a front view, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation, of a wall-lamp embodying nearly the same fogm of adjusting mechanism as Fig. 4. Figs. Wand 8 are axial sections, and Fig. 9 is apartly-secpartpf Letters Patent No. 240,462, dated April 19, 1881. Application filed November 17, 1880. (No model.)

tioned elevation of lamps representing other modifications of the candle-adjusting device. All of the above-represented lamp modifications are adapted for use with the annular form of my mineral candle. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a lamp adapted for use with the flat form of my mineral candle, a portion of the font-wall being broken away, so as to expose parts of the feed-cushion and superincumbent portion of the mineral candle. Fig. 111's a transverse section of such a lamp adapted for use with a single central adjustingscrew.

For use with the annular form of my mineral candle the font A is likewise annular, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in, Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, while for use with the flat form of my mineral candle the font is straight, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

13 represents the customary screw -capped feed-neck.

The front wall, 0, of the candle holder or socket C D extends downward into the font, and has oil-passages c. The bottom of the candle-holder is packed with or receives my elastic feed wick or cushion E, composed either wholly of some springy, fibrous, or spongy material or such material associated with an embedded metallic spring, preferably of helical form, as shown at e, Fig. 7.

For the material of the cushion proper I employ, either separately or any two or more of them combined, any suitable pervious and springy material-such as sponge,'mineral wool, packed or felted wool, curled hair, or worsted yarn.

Resting upon the cushion E is my rigid mineral candle F, either of annular form, as in Figs. 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9, or flat, as in Figs. 10 and 11. The mineral candle employed by me (and which I intend to be the subject-matter of an application for patent) may be described, briefly, as a core or central lamina, f, of bibulous paper, or other suitable wick material whose vertical surfaces are everywhere incrusted with a wall or coating of a magma or compost of powdered chalk orother mineral or minerals, and a mucilaginous or other bond insoluble by, and impervious to, mineral oil.

A simple form of lamp adapted for the annular form of such candle is represented in Fig. 1. In this form of lamp the outer wall, 0, of my candle holder or socket is pierced with spiral slots G, for the protruding ends 71.

of a wooden splint or slender rod or pin, H, affixed transversely in the candle, as shown in Fig. 3. The burning-fluid, ascending the central permeable core of the mineral candle, reaches the top edge of the latter, and a match being applied a low and brilliant circle of flame is formed. Should said flame smoke it is a sign that the supply of oil is in excess of that which the burning capacities of the candle can consume. To rectify this it is only necessary to increase the candle-pressure upon the feedcushion, so as to partially close up the latters interstices. This is effected by a slight backward or left-hand rotation of the candle by means of the projecting ends h of the rod H. By a still greater retrograde rotation the supply of oil may be sufficiently diminished to nearly or quite extinguish the flame. A contrary movement of the rod, of course, produces opposite effects.

Instead of the above construction I sometimes employ a sleeve, I, Fig. 4, whose screwthreaded spurs J traverse vertical slots K in the outer wall of the candle-socket and enter the substance of the candle.

Depending from sleeve I, and traversing tubes L in the font, is a stirrup, M, through which passes a screw, N, which, being journaled in a cross-bar, O, a right or left rotation of the screw operates to depress or elevate the candle, as the case may be.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification of the same arrangement for a bracket-lamp, the font being of D form, and the vertical limbs of the stirrup being carried down outside of the font.

Fig. 7 represents a still further modification, in which the sleeve I is located internally, and

' is provided with a cross-bar, P, into which the regulating-screw N is tapped.

Fig. 8 represents a modification of the last named, Whose sleeve I has spirally -formed slots t and a T-t'ormed stem, Q, by which the sleeve is rotated to right or left. Studs It, projecting from the wall of the draftway, occupy said slots '5.

Fig. 9 is a modification of the last-named form, in which the sleeve 1' is external, and is provided with knobs S, by which it may be turned to right or left, so as to elevate or depress the candle.

Fig. 10 shows a form of lamp for adapting my feed-cushion for use with a flat mineral candle.

An encircling frame, T, furnished with screwthreaded spurs J, which enter the mineral candle, has screws N tapped within lugs t that project from it, and by'which it can be raised or lowered, precisely in the same manner as described for the manipulation of the annular candle.- Instead, however, of two adjusting-screws located at the extremities of the candle, as in Fig. 10, a stirrup, M, may be carried down from the sleeve, as in Fig. 11, at a point opposite the mid-length of the candle, and may receive an adjusting-screw, N. One limb of this stirrup may occupy a tube, L, in the font.

Should it be found that the flame is of unequal height at the two extremities of the candle-summit, such inequality can be cured by momentary withdrawal of the screw-threaded spur J from the less luminous side and its reinsertion somewhat lower down upon the candle. This effects an equalization of pressure, after which the adjustment can be effected by the central screw only. 7

In forms employing an adjusting-screw at each extremity, as in Fig. 10, rectification of unequal pressure may be produced, either by a shift of one or more spurs, as above, or by manipulation of one or both adjusting-screws. After such adjustment for equality both screws are manipulated simultaneously for increase or diminution of the flame-line.

Elasticity of the fibrous packing may be aided,either by one or more embedded springs, as at e, or by the introduction, below the packing, of springs U, attached to the under side of or supporting a plate, V. (See Fig. 10.)

W,- Fig. 9, represents an open frame-base having stepped edges, to adapt it to fit any sized supporting ring or bracket.

I have illustrated myinvention in its adaptation to forms of lamps which are designed for use without a chimney but such mineral candles and compressible cushions may obviously be used with various forms of lamps employing a chimney.

The illustrations are designed to represent my improvements in the form of sheet metal, but glass or other suitable material may obviously be employed.

In the cylindrical form of my mineral candle the rotary movement of the candle itself may often be advantageously converted into a direct vertical motion by employing an additional sleeve or member therefor, or otherwise limiting the motion of the candle to a vertical direction, and in such case the construction herewith represented in Figs. 1 and 2 may have the slots for reception of ends it of the cross-pin H cut vertically and the spiral slots cut in a superposed sleeve for receiving corresponding stumps affixed to the outer tube of the socket or candle holder, or attrition of the candle against the feed-cushion may be prevented by an interposed washer of wiregauze, as indicated at m, Fig. 7

In my manufacture it may be of much importance to apply the compression and recession force to the candle straight up and down to the constructions shown generally by Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 9, like to the straight pull and easing of Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11.

In Fig. 9 the superposed additional sleeve tapped with the pins J may be connected with the sleeve I by receiving in an annular groove cut in its lower edge the top edge of the sleeve Iaturned inwardly, so as to enter and play horizontally in said groove.

I claim as new and of my invention-- 1. In combination with a mineral or rigid candle having a permeable core and a corresponding holder or socket, the elastic permeable feed-cushion E, substantially as set forth.

5 2. In combination with a mineral candle and its supporting elastic feed-cushion and the holder or socket of the same, the means, sub- 'stantially as described, for elevating and depressing the candle, and thereby relieving or I0 compressing the feed-cushion in the manner I explained. Y

3. In combination with candle-holding tube O D, feed-cushion E, and mineral candle F,

one or more rods or pins, '11 or J, which con- 

